Lunchtime Playworker (Fixed Term Contract)

Wallscourt Farm Academy; Bristol; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 27,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

LGPS Pension

Generous annual leave

Induction and wellbeing support

Wellbeing programmes

On-site parking

Job summary

Wallscourt Farm Academy in Stoke Gifford, near Bristol, is seeking a Lunchtime Playworker for a fixed-term contract ending Oct 2027. The role runs 8.75 hours per week, Mon-Fri 11:35am–1:20pm, commencing 1 October 2026, pending checks.

The post supports children’s development through structured play and activities in a nursery setting. You will join a caring team, providing a safe, engaging environment with opportunities to lead play, communicate with families, and contribute to the academy’s

Qualifications

• First Aid qualification or willingness to undertake training.
• Strong interpersonal skills with empathy and active listening.
• Ability to manage behaviour in a calm, non-judgemental way and support children.

Responsibilities

• Manage daily activities and routines to create a safe, stimulating environment.
• Supervise and support children during playtime and learning activities.
• Plan and implement engaging activities promoting physical, social, and emotional development.
• Foster positive relationships with children, parents and colleagues.

Skills

First Aid

Communication

Empathy

Patience

Calm under pressure

Job description

Job Title: Lunchtime Playworker

Actual Annual Salary: £5,131 - £5,218 (£13.45 - £13.68 per hour) Based on hours and weeks worked

Full Time Equivalent Salary: £25,949 - £26,392 (CLF Grade Aii) Based on 37 hours per week, all year round.

Contract: Fixed Term Contract until October 2027 or the return of the current postholder (maternity cover)

Hours: 8.75 per week (Mon-Fri 11:35am – 1:20pm)

Start Date: 1 October 2026 pending pre-employment checks

Maybe your children about to start school, or do you suddenly find yourself with a bit more time?

We are looking for a Playworker to join our supportive and talented team at Wallscourt Farm Academy. We are a diverse multi-academy trust, looking for professional and ambitious people, with a passion for transforming our students’ learning.

We are seeking a dedicated and enthusiastic Playworker to join our team, providing a safe and engaging environment for children. The ideal candidate will have a passion for working with young children, demonstrating strong leadership skills and the ability to communicate effectively with both children and parents. This role is essential in supporting children's development through play and structured activities in a nursery setting.

Duties:

• Manage daily activities and routines to ensure a safe and stimulating environment for children.
• Communicate effectively with children, encouraging their participation in play and learning activities.
• Supervise children during playtime, ensuring their safety and well-being at all times.
• Plan and implement engaging activities that promote physical, social, and emotional development.
• Foster positive relationships with children, parents, and colleagues to create a supportive community.
• Maintain cleanliness and organisation of the play area, ensuring all equipment is safe and suitable for use.
• Collaborate with other staff members to support the overall objectives of the nursery.

About you:

You will:

• have an understanding of the varied needs of children and families the varied needs of children and families
• have appropriate First Aid qualification or willingness to undertake training
• have strong interpersonal skills, in particular demonstrates empathy and active listening
• be able to deal with inappropriate behaviour in a calm and non-judgemental way, following academy guidance
• be patient, calm and able to work under pressure

Applicants are advised to refer to the full requirements of the role in the attached job description and person specification, prior to submitting an application.

About Wallscourt Farm Academy:

Wallscourt Farm Academy is two-form entry primary school located in Stoke Gifford, on the outskirts of Bristol and South Gloucestershire.

At Wallscourt Farm Academy, we foster ambitious young people who are culturally aware and who contribute to society and the lives of others as they become adults themselves. We value tolerance, understanding, mutual respect, unique individuality and celebrate the unity that this makes as we come together as One Learning Community. We foster a multi-faith, socially diverse environment with an emphasis on common values and principles for life. These principles underpin everything that happens within and around the school and bind us as diverse individuals within diverse communities that come together with one shared goal – To contribute positively to our own lives and to the lives of others.

We hold high expectations for our learners and have crafted a curriculum that is progressive, well-sequenced, coherent, and inspiring. We have ambitious aims for the success of our learners and make a commitment to see them flourish and thrive on their journey to reach their full potential.

At Wallscourt Farm Academy, we have a positive, passionate and ambitious staff team. We value the part that each and every staff member plays in achieving this vision. We work hard to make people feel welcome and included and have created our own staff culture tree cookies!

Why work at CLF?

We are a diverse and inclusive community of 36 academies across five cluster regions in the South West that is committed to excellence and making a positive impact. Our people bring unique perspectives, but we’re all driven by a shared moral purpose and a passion for making a positive impact, whether in a teaching, leadership or support role. We’re proud to foster a culture where everyone can thrive, feel valued, and make a meaningful difference to the lives of others.

We are an equal opportunity employer and proud to serve a diverse student population and our communities. We strongly believe that representation matters. Over 41% of the pupils who attend Wallscourt Farm Academy are from global majority groups, so we particularly encourage applicants from those groups in order to represent the pupils we serve, as well as wider underrepresented groups including gender, transgender, age disability, sexual orientation or religion.

We aim to remove any barriers to employment, ensuring everyone can compete on equal terms. Job share, part-time and flexible working opportunities will be considered.

What we can offer you:

• Access to a generous pension through the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
• Generous annual leave.
• A comprehensive induction and ongoing commitment to wellbeing and career progression, through a range of training, apprenticeships and in-role/wider-trust development opportunities.
• Well-being support through an Employee Assistance Programme.
• Health benefits, including wellness sessions, gym discounts, and flu jabs.
• A range of generous family leave options, including above industry average occupational maternity pay.
• Additional benefits like cycle to work scheme, on-site parking plus many more!

Recruitment timeline:

Closing Date: 31 August 2026 @11.59pm

Shortlisting: 2 September 2026

Interviews: 7 September 2026

We welcome visits from potential candidates. If you would like to arrange a school visit prior to the closing date, please contact the academy directly to arrange a suitable appointment.

Skilled Worker visas cannot be sponsored through this role, as it does not meet the requirements set out by government.

As a Disability Confident Committed Employer, we are dedicated to equity and inclusion and commit to interviewing applicants with a disability who meet the essential criteria. We aim to provide an inclusive and accessible recruitment process, and support employees throughout their employment. If you have a disability, are neurodivergent, or require any adjustments to support you through the application or interview process please let us know how we can assist.